Monthly Archives: April 2017

In Luke 24:13-35 it’s still Easter Sunday, like it was last week and the week before, each week’s readings focusing on a different aspect of Jesus’ resurrection. On our Easter Sunday, we celebrated his resurrection as the triumph over death that it is. Then, last week we talked about how Jesus has poured out the Holy Spirit upon us. The Holy Spirit …

“Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” These are Jesus’ words to the apostle Thomas as recorded in John’s Gospel (John 20:19-31). The apostle Peter reiterates this sentiment in his first epistle, noting that those to whom he writes love Jesus and believe in him, even though they have not seen him (1 Peter 1:3-9). Indeed, …

He is Risen! He is Risen Indeed! Alleluia! That’s the reason we’re celebrating Easter today isn’t it? We’re celebrating because Jesus “has risen, as he said.” He instituted his Lord’s Supper on Thursday, was crucified on Friday between two criminals, brought down from the cross before night fell, placed in the tomb of Joseph of Arimathea, and then rested in the tomb …

The Apostle John records (John 19:30): “When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, ‘It is finished’, and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.” Prior to the intrusion of sin into the world, God had walked in the garden of Eden with Adam and Eve and gave them a way to respond to His love through …

In the Old Testament, after God made His covenant with the people of Israel, it was sealed with the blood of a sacrifice. After reading God’s Word to the people, Moses threw the sacrificial blood on them, declaring, “Behold the blood of the covenant that the Lord has made with you in accordance with all these words” (Exodus 24:3-11). The …

This is the final week. We’ve reached Holy Week at the end of this Lenten season in which we have been preparing for Holy Thursday, Good Frida, and Easter Sunday. This preparation is something that our Lord Jesus Christ did as well. His whole purpose in coming to us in the flesh leads up to this Holy Week. Indeed, God’s …

You may have noticed that in English translations of the Bible, particularly the Old Testament, the word “LORD” (in all capital letters) appears often. Why is this? It goes back to the Jewish reluctance to write or use the personal name of God. In Exodus 3, when God reveals Himself to Moses, Moses asks God for His name. God says to …

Chapter eleven of John’s Gospel is one of my favorite texts in the Gospels, because it is really powerful. In this Gospel text we see the friendship that Jesus has with Mary, Martha, and Lazarus – three siblings who lived in the village of Bethany. Bethany was a couple miles away from Jerusalem, so it was a convenient spot to …